Author: amerrill

The book of Job, in its entirety, is one of the greatest examples in the Bible of a person trusting God in the midst of severe trial and deep sorrow. After he lost just about everything—his children, servants, livestock, wealth, and health—Job made three important statements that we can learn a great deal from. These statements will profoundly shape our perspective and our relationship with the Lord.

First, Job said in chapter one verse 21, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I will depart.

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised!” Job acknowledged that God had given him everything he had—and since it seemed that God had chosen to take everything away, Job still praised His name.

Second, he said in Job 13:15, “Though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him.”

How easy it is to praise God and trust Him when things are going well in our lives? It’s another thing altogether to praise and trust Him in times of loss and difficulty. The key is knowing that God is trustworthy and good, even when we don’t understand our circumstances. (See Genesis 50:20; Psalm 107:1; Luke 18:19; and 1 John 1:5.)

Third, Job said in chapter 14, verse one and two, “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow.”

Job recognized that our time here on this earth is so brief. This brevity of life puts any hardship we may be facing into perspective because it pales in comparison with the eternity we will spend with God in Heaven. (See also James 4:14-15.)

After making these profound and faith-filled statements, Job asked God some questions—114 questions, to be exact.

Job questioned, but he never once blamed God. Within this inquiry, we find life’s greatest question:

“If a man dies, will he live again?” (Job 14:14)

To answer this question, I want to encourage you to take some time out this week to look up and read the following verses:

• Ecclesiastes 3:2
• Psalm 146:4
• Hebrews 9:27-28
• Philippians 3:20-21
• John 11:25
• Psalm 116:15
• Psalm 30:5

These Scriptures will bless and encourage you to know, without a doubt, that there is an afterlife—and the best afterlife is spent with God our Creator by knowing His Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World (John 3:16).

Then God answered Job with questions of His own in chapters 38 to 41, which are a must read, and we learn that God is good and sovereign over all. He is worthy of trust. He has a plan and a purpose for His creation, and He loves us. This truth is echoed in Psalm 8:3-5, which says,

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,  which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them,  human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.”

The biggest lesson we learn from Job is that, no matter our circumstances—even when our lives our topsy-turvy and all seems lost—God is good and trustworthy. He sees you. He knows you. He loves you. He is coming to rescue you. Trust Him. Trust Him.

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith (available everywhere books are sold online) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

In the midst of stress, worry, trials, fear, and uncertainty, how can we obtain the abundant joy that God promises throughout the Bible to those who love Him? Truly possessing joy and peace seems almost impossible in these tumultuous times, doesn’t it? But in reality, facing troubles in this life is nothing new. The Book of James in the New Testament tells us that troubles are inevitable: “Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds.” It doesn’t say “if” you face trials—it says “whenever” you face trials of many kinds.

It is true that some trials are big, and some are small. Some are fender benders and some are head-on collisions. Some people lose their wallets, and some people lose their business. Some people lose their keys; some people lose their loved ones. Some people suffer a heartache; some people suffer a heart attack. Some people wait in a long line at the DMV; some people wait in a long line for an organ transplant. Trials come in all different shapes and sizes.

Unavoidable loss, lack of provision, stress, oppression, and opposition are all unfortunate and inevitable parts of life—especially for the Christian. Any time a person chooses to follow Jesus Christ and takes a stand for God’s Word, he or she is actually going to have more problems because the world will take a stand against that person.

Perhaps you feel like David in Psalm 69:1-2 when he wrote, “Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths where there is no foothold. I am in deep water and the floods overwhelm me.” If that is the situation you find yourself in today, I have good news for you—and it comes from God’s Word through three important principles:

1. Joyfully allow the process to run its course.

God has a plan for your life, though life is full of challenges. As you go through stressful times, remember that there is a process that must take place. In fact, James says to joyfully allow the process to take place. He writes in James 1:2, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Pure joy is not an outward expression of elation. Pure joy is an inward contentment knowing that God is at work. He is developing something in you: perseverance. So, if He allows the trial because He wants us to develop perseverance, the question is, “Why does God want me to develop perseverance? Why does He want me to learn to persevere?” Well, verse four tells you: “Perseverance must finish its work so that you will be mature, not lacking anything.”

Would you like to be in a position where you lack nothing? Well, the only way you get in the position where you lack nothing is if you become mature and complete. The only way you can become mature and complete is if you learn to persevere. The only way you’re going to learn perseverance is to go through a trial of some kind. Therefore, it sounds as though experiencing trials in life is a must. As it has been said before, don’t allow troubles to make you bitter; allow them to make you better. And you do this with the proper perspective and attitude that James talks about: joy.

2. Prayerfully ask God for wisdom and stability.

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” This means that whenever you’re going through a difficult time, pray and ask God for wisdom to know what to do. Through prayer, you have access to the Creator God of the universe who is all-knowing, all-powerful, ever present, good, awesome, and loving. Why not ask Him for wisdom in the situation you are currently facing? Sometimes our prayers can be selfish, but James says here that if you ask for wisdom, God will give it to you generously and without finding fault. There’s one catch to asking God for wisdom, according to verse six. James says, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt.”

When you come to a fork in the road, and you’re thinking, Oh what should I do? God wants you to make the right decision. And not only does God want you to make the right decision, but He also wants to help you make the right decision. Just like a good parent, God has a wealth of wisdom He wants to share with you. He looks at all of us running around stressed and confused, and He wants us to come to Him for wisdom, joy, and peace—believing that He will do it. God will give you and me these spiritual gifts generously, if only we’d take the time to ask (pray).

3. Faithfully persevere while focusing on the ultimate prize.

If all you do is look at the problems, you’re not going to make it. The only way you’re going to get through difficult times is by focusing on the ultimate prize. James 1:9 addresses those who are in “humble circumstances.” Are you hurting right now? You’re in a humble circumstance. Are you stressed out right now? You’re in a humble circumstance. Are you in the midst of a trial? Have you recently lost a loved one? Have you lost your job? Have your children gone astray? Have you lost it all? James says you actually ought to take pride in such a high position. Why? Because God is about to show up. The same God who delivered Moses and the Israelites, Gideon, Daniel, Lazarus, and countless others is about to deliver you!

[Photo by Matt Moloney from StockSnap]

James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” And 1 Peter 1:7 says we ought to rejoice in these trials because, through them, our faith will be proven genuine—and of greater worth than gold! May you persevere by staying focused on the prize and know that God is preparing, maturing you, and blessing beyond what you could ever hope or imagine!

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith (available everywhere books are sold online) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Throughout history, God often chooses the humble things of this world to make His glory known, and one of the most beautiful examples of this truth is Christmas story, which is documented in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. First, we see a humble young woman—the virgin Mary—chosen to be the mother of the Savior of the world. Next, we see the man to whom Mary was engaged, Joseph, who wasn’t a rich or powerful man, but a modest carpenter. Even the birthplace of Jesus Christ was lowly and unspectacular—a manger in Bethlehem. Though Isaiah 9:6 describes Jesus as our “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,” He wasn’t born in a palace or a state-of-the-art hospital, but in essence, a barn.

In Luke 2:8-12, the Bible says “there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’”

Shepherds aren’t exactly admired or exalted today, nor were they in biblical times. And yet God chose men from a lowly status and profession to receive this angelic message and to have the honor of viewing a great company of angels who appeared in the heavens, “praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” The manner in which the shepherds responded to the Light of the World is an example to us all. Because of their faith and obedience, the shepherds were one of the first witnesses of the arrival of God’s gift to humanity—His one and only Son. Here are four important things we learn from this wonderful account:

1. They Investigated

Verse 15 tells us that when the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They wanted to see for themselves. This response demonstrates that faith does not exclude careful examination. It’s always a good thing to investigate the truth!

2. They Hurried

When the shepherds learned of this awesome news, they didn’t hang out in the fields and sip their coffee and play another game of chess. No, the Bible says “they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” When you hear the Good News, don’t delay!

3. They Spread the Word

Once the shepherds actually saw baby Jesus, verse 18 says, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” When you find out something as amazing as the fact that God sent His Son to bring salvation to the world—this is called the Gospel—it’s impossible to keep this news to yourself. You must spread the Word.

4. They Glorified and Praised

Next, Luke 2:20 says, “the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” The Lord is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. He keeps His promises and has made a way for all of humankind to come to Him for abundant life here on earth as well as eternal life in Heaven. This Christmas, take a moment to thank God and praise Him for His marvelous deeds.

Jesus is the Light of the World! I want to encourage you to respond just as the shepherds did by investigating, hurrying, spreading the word, and glorifying and praising the Father for this incomparable gift. To learn more, please join us at Shepherd Church on Saturdays and Sundays in person, or online via https://live.shepherdchurch.com/. Merry Christmas!

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith (available everywhere books are sold online) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you were to look around the world today, you would be hard-pressed to find a single individual who was not experiencing conflict in some area of his or her life. Since the beginning of creation, man has been at odds with God and with each other. As a result, we have strife within families, rifts in friendships, war between countries, fighting between rival gangs and clans, and the list goes on and on. On top of that, politics and the media never fail to fan the flames of animosity and controversy. Jesus Christ said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

In Isaiah 9:6, Jesus is described as the “Prince of Peace,” and He said in Matthew 5:9 that those who are peacemakers will not only be blessed, but they will also be called children of God. So, in this world filled with great trouble and strife, how can we obtain peace and how can we become peacemakers? Here are three important ways:

1. Make peace with God.

Throughout the Bible (see Romans 15:33, 2 Corinthians 13:11, and Philippians 4:9 for examples), God is called the “God of peace.” But when Adam and Even disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the world and put man in enmity with our Creator. Peace was replaced with war, life with murder and death. Despite these sad consequences of sin, God had a plan. Through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus—who was an atonement for our sins—the Lord provided a way for us to have peace with Him once again (Colossians 1:19-20). The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and that the penalty of sin is death (Romans 3:23 and 6:23). However, God has given us the gift of “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” to whoever believes in Him (Romans 6:23 and John 3:16). You can make peace with God today by accepting the free gift of salvation when you put your faith and trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ

2. Make peace with others.

The Bible shares the important steps to reconciliation with one another. First, we must forgive others as God has forgiven us in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:13). Christ, who was without sin and did no wrong, was falsely accused, ridiculed, beaten, and crucified. As He hung a Roman cross, He said, “Father forgive them.” I know that some wounds are so deep that forgiveness can be very difficult. Preacher and author Thomas Watson defined “forgiveness” as resisting revenge, not returning evil for evil, wishing the other person well, praying for their welfare, seeking reconciliation so far as it depends on you, and coming to their aid in distress. (See Matthew 18:15-35 and Galatians 6:1 for further steps to restoration according to the Lord.) It may not be easy, but it is far better than allowing the bitterness of unforgiveness to take root in your heart. Forgiveness sets you free, and when you make peace with others, Jesus said you will be blessed and considered a child of God.

3. Lead others to make peace with God.

Once you have made peace with God and with others through Christ Jesus, you will share the Gospel with others so that they, too, might find peace. In 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 we are told that God has given believers “the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” Freely share the grace, joy, and peace you have been given through your relationship with Jesus.

What an immense blessing it is that the Lord has provided a way for all people to obtain peace with Him and with others! To learn more about the peace that is available through Jesus Christ, please join us at Shepherd Church on Saturdays and Sundays in person, or online via https://live.shepherdchurch.com/.

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith (available everywhere books are sold online) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A few times in my life, I have stopped by the doctor’s office without an appointment. You might ask, “Why would you do that?” Well, perhaps the doctor was a friend of mine. Maybe it was a situation when I was just in the area, or it may have been because I needed to see a doctor. Whatever the reason, each time, I would walk into that doctor’s office without an appointment and ask three questions: 1. Is the doctor in? (Because if he’s not there, I might as well leave.)  2. Is he available? (Because he might be in the office, but he might too busy to see me.)  3. May I see him? (Because he might actually be available, but there’s a chance he just doesn’t want to see me.) We ask these questions of doctors, pastors, lawyers, and counselors. But what about God? Have you ever asked God these same questions? Is God in? Is God available? Will God see me? In the tumultuous times we’re experiencing right now, I would venture to say that many people are asking these questions.

The year 2020 is unlike anything we have ever seen before. COVID-19 has brought sickness and fear. Our nation’s economy has taken a huge hit, with many businesses forced to close. Recently I saw a statistic that 50 percent of all households in Los Angeles are struggling financially. Then we had the tragic killing of George Floyd. We’ve had protests and riots; people who are angry, outraged, and hurting. What’s more, our country is being divided by unscrupulous politicians and media empires. It seems as though we demonize anyone with a differing opinion. Churches have been told that they cannot meet indoors or sing praises to God. On top of all that, we have fires raging all over the state of California and Oregon. It is common knowledge that as a result of all these things, suicide and mental illnesses have skyrocketed. And the question we ask is not, “Is the doctor?” The big question is, “Is God in?” And if He is in, is God available? And if He’s available, will God see me? Will He hear me? Will He be with me? Does He care? Will He comfort me? Will He rescue me?

We find the answer to these crucial questions in Psalm 77. The Psalms are always a blessing to read when you’re discouraged, and Psalm 77, specifically, is a goldmine of good news. In the first half the psalmist is lamenting and complaining. It is clear that he is in a bad place. He writes,

“I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint” (v. 1-3).

He wonders why God has seemingly rejected him and whether God’s “unfailing love [has] vanished forever.” He asks if God has forgotten to be merciful and compassionate. And He almost gives up. But suddenly, he has a shift in his thinking.

He says in verses 10 through 13,

“Then I thought, ‘To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.’ Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?”

We, too, must have a shift in our thinking. When we look behind us, around us, and in front of us with hopeful and faithful eyes, we begin to see that God is in! He’s in history—in our past and all the times He has been faithful (Psalm 77:14). He has never ever forsaken you. God is in the story of redemption (v. 15), sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins that we may have eternal life. He’s in creation—from the tiniest flower to the majestic redwood trees, the countless stars in the night sky, the fearsome ocean, the miracle of a baby (v. 16-19). God is in the storm (v. 18) and promises to be there with you in times of trouble. And He’s in the Church…He is the Great Shepherd of His flock (v. 20). With all its imperfections, God has chosen His people, the Church of Jesus Christ as His vessel for taking the life-changing, heart-transforming Gospel to the four corners of the world.

Psalm 77 reminds us that God performs miracles. He leads us through the storms of life and upon a sure and dry path through the waters—just as He did for the Israelites. Even though you can’t always see His footprints, as the psalmist says in verse 19, He is there! God sees you, hears you, knows you, and loves you. Call on Him during these uncertain times because God is always in!

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith (available everywhere books are sold online) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Jesus loves people, not because of who they are, but because of who He is. Love is Jesus’s nature. If you read the Gospel of John, you will see that Jesus had a face-to-face encounter with person after person, and it didn’t matter if they were male or female, rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, sinner or a Pharisee; Jesus loved all people. And He loves you.

Your life matters to Jesus—just as the woman at the well in John 4 mattered to Him. This is evidenced by several eye-opening parts of His conversation with her. On His way to Galilee, Jesus stopped in Samaria, and there He spoke with a woman at the well. He asked her to give Him a drink of water. The woman was taken aback by this request because Jews did not associate with Samaritans, nor would it have been likely for a man to have a conversation with a woman he didn’t know in that time and culture. Moreover, the Bible notes that this woman was at the well in the middle of the day. Normally, the women would come to well in the cool of the morning for practical and social reasons. But because of this woman’s sin (which we learn about later), she was outcast and alone. And yet Jesus connected with her despite racial differences, gender differences, and moral differences.

Next, Jesus demonstrated His love for the woman at the well by speaking to her about her spiritual well-being and her eternal destiny. Though He initially spoke to her about literal water, Jesus often used the physical to illustrate the spiritual. Jesus said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (verses 13-14).

The woman replied, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.”

Jesus replied, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”

Jesus revealed that He knew her past and her pain, and it’s important to note that He will always talk to us about our sin—not to embarrass us—but to get us to turn from it so that He can point us to a better way of life. In spite of ours sins and failures, Jesus personally, wonderfully, lovingly cares deeply for you and for me, just as He cared for the woman at the well. She needed to know that someone truly valued her. Jesus went to Samaria purposefully and engaged in this conversation with her because she mattered to Jesus.

Now at this point, the woman was astonished and thought Jesus was a prophet. However, Jesus proved Himself as the Christ as their conversation concluded. He told her in verse 24, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah is coming. When He comes, He will tell us all things.”  Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” Overjoyed, the woman left her water pot behind and went into the town, proclaiming everything that had happened. The woman at the well became a woman of great worth!

No matter your past, Jesus knows you and loves you because of who He is. He demonstrated His amazing love by going to the cross for our sins, and proved that He is Lord and Savior by resurrecting from the dead. Jesus will always break down man-made barriers to reach the heart that is longing to be known and valued. Your life matters to Jesus.

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith (available everywhere books are sold online) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.